Thank YOU!

Kevin Cashman teacher-pal at Chief Carlo Elementary just sent this along, a thanks from the 4th graders for the Zoom program! I love that, "peers," and nice Peregrine! At the beginning of the year the students choose what their class will be called, and Kevin's kids decided on  Awesome Axolotls.  Look that one up. 

Secret Spot Yesterday

If you were an Osprey...

...which nest would you choose?

First Hummingbird!

Yesterday we busted out the hummingbird feeders. They're here! One at least and I'll get a photo today.

TapTapTapping

I heard the familiar drumming pattern of a Red-naped Sapsucker, but it sounded different. The males (mostly) sound off to mark their territory this time of year, taptaptaptap....tap.....tap....tap, slowing down. I looked out out the kitchen window and he was pounding on the metal pheasant sculpture in the front yard. Nice resonant sound, Dude!

Yesterday

Bets and Mom and I spent some quality time social distancing at the Bonner Peregrine cliff and did we see some action. Not for very long but several fly-bys by the male, and could hear the female chipping on the ledge. And then something sure made her mad and out she came chasing off (?) another male(?)  It didn't look amicable at all. Maybe she's just a drama queen. She deserves to be. And sure cranking on my Falcons of North America 2nd edition book. Me so proud.

Happy 4/20!

Kestrel Box!

Kestrel nest box built by Tom 16 years ago and FINALLY installed, on our favorite family's property, the Snowdens here in Florence. Jake, Luke, and Andy, Alissa (at work,) with Blue the dog. Jake spotted two kestrels flying up the road as it was installed!  Fingers crossed.

Hellgate Osprey

Iris is back to her nest at Riverside Health Care, famous bird.

ZOOM!

I just did a ZOOM program on the computer for 70 4th graders from Chief Charlo Elementary School this morning. How 21st century and thanks to our favorite teacher, Kevin Cashman. Birds in the office -  Aplomado, then a PowerPoint, Sibley, then Owen the Saw-whet Owl. Hoot 'em up kids,  and at the very end I looked right in the camera and admitted, “I am not even wearing shoes now."

Red Cliffs Bird Festival, Utah

I was scheduled to be the Keynote next week, a return to SouthWestern Utah, and cancelled, for some reason.  Actually it is just postponed one year. Karen Monsen had this nice story, featured in the latest issue of ViewOn.  Mom wondered why I handed her a magazine with a golfer on the cover, then found the story! A fun surprise.

 

Same Pheasant, Different Snow

This morning.

Downtown Missoula

Higgins Avenue, our main street in Missoula, on Sunday. Right in front of Charlie B's.

Funny Lookin' Storks....

Tom and I were at the beach Friday late evening and I was watching an Osprey that just wouldn't get any closer, hunting upstream. I was staying put. "And here comes a group of Sandhill Cranes," I said shooting away as they flew north. Little did I know until I downloaded the images - White-faced Ibises! Wonder where they will end up.

No More Snow, Okay?

Sitting in the warm sun at the beach on the river yesterday, blizzard today. What better time to work on the edits of the Falcons book, you bet.

Frat Party

Tom and I just saw these Painted Turtles at Lee Metcalf Refuge, and he informed me that they were all males, as a joke. Looking at this photo, they might be! Remember the carapace is flatter on the boys? Just a guess here, and didn't need to photograph at 3500th of a second, like Peregrines. Easy Peasy.

End of the Season

Yep, today was Sibley's last flight until September. No more daily trip across the road and I came to my senses when a pair of territorial Peregrines defended their territory! THEIR breeding territory and none of this frivolous exercise and lolygagging in the sky. I will sure miss this adventure, but time for her to continue her molt and be spoiled in the house and probably drives in the neighborhood. She loves looking out the window.

And Today

Man, this bird loves to fly!

Sib Today

April Snow-showers Bring May Flowers

One More From Yesterday

Florence Osprey Update

A quick visit to the nest one mile away revealed the female in place for a bit, observing a European Starling that was either also nesting there, or on a food scrap raid. Most, but not all female Ospreys have that "necklace" of darker feathers; males never do, a clear white upper breast. Thanks Kathy and Terry for letting me observe from your home. This is going to be fun!

Oneth of April